Conference Prestige (English)

[crazyhappy]

Hi,

several of my Profs suggested I submit proposal abstracts for conferences.  I know that MLA in any of its forms/subsections is prestigious, but I found a call for papers (from the U Penn site) at a conference in Scotland with University of Aberdeen that says its organized with the intention to lead to a publication of its proceedings.  I have the perfect paper to fit this conference (not that I would necessarily get it  ), but would I ever need to worry that I could get a conference like this and it would actually look bad on my c.v.?  I am so new to all of this, and I have not been able to receive any advice from my old profs. since I graduated in December.  I am trying to do everything possible to strengthen my apps for Ph.d. programs, and I'd hate for my ignorance to hurt my chances.   Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

Edited March 23, 2013 by crazyhappy

[ProfLorax]

crazyhappy, a few tips:

 

1. Post this in the Lit/Rhet/Comp boards. We are an active bunch, and you'll get lots of different opinions there.

2. No conference is going to look bad or keep you out of grad school. However, some conferences are notorious for being somewhat scammy in charging ridiculously high fees. Google the name of the organization. See what people are saying about it.

3. Talk to your former professors. I graduated three years ago, and my former professors have been immensely helpful in this process. Two of them I emailed almost weekly with questions. If you have any former professors you have a tight connection with, don't let the fact that you recently graduated prohibit you from asking questions!

[crazyhappy]

Thanks! I will post it on the Lit/Rhet/Comp boards.  The org is the University of Aberdeen, and I looked up the contact: she is a professor there with an interest in the topic of the conference.  Hopefully, that is good.  I should really contact my professors.  I just always feel like I'm bothering them: it literally takes me a day to write up/send an email to them whenever I do--you'd think it would be a  piece of cake since I write so much  .  Thanks again!